Easy Set Pools: Easy set up – but easy care?

Finally getting the little 8′ easy set pool filled with air and water didn’t really take too long. Grab a spare plastic tote to use as a pre-plunge foot rinse, throw the floatees and water wings in and make sure the dog can’t quite reach the rubber sides with her claws…then get the girls into their bathing suits and jump in! What a great gift!

Photo: Creative Commons

 Woohoo!

The first time was great since the sun had a chance to warm the water up while the kids were napping. Everyone loved it, except Dad when the youngest managed to slip out of her floatee seat and suddenly started swimming under water like she was born a fish!

Yeah. That was scary.

The second day was a little overcast so the water was pretty chilly. Even though Dad and the oldest enjoyed it, the little one wasn’t having any of it and when Mom had to go to work a little while later, it was “everyone out of the pool.” Little spoil sport.

Third day….lots of leaves, a few bugs and a slightly greenish cast to the water. And on the 4th day, well, it was time to find the pump…which, he discovered, did NOT come with the pool when it was given to them as a gift. No prob. Just dump it and start over.

So called “easy set” inflatable ring pools – above ground, obviously – are great for families who want a pool but have small children. You can get them as diminuative as wading pools or as large as 18′ by 52″ high. Of course, the smaller the pool, the easier to care for…just deflate the ring, dump the few gallons of water, sponge clean…refill.

The larger easy set pools…well, caring for them can be a bit tricky.

For one, it’s a lot more expensive to dump and refill a pool that’s even as small as 8′ X 24″, much less trying the same thing with a monster pool that probably holds around 4000 – 6000 gallons of water. Secondly, the filter pumps that come with these pools are not always the longest lasting pumps you can find, so check them often to make sure they’re in good working order.

Incidentally, it’s reported that the pumps that come with the smaller pools aren’t always sufficient to the volume of water they’re supposed to keep circulating, so it may be in your best interest to invest in one that is capable of circulating half again to twice the amount of water in your pool.

As a matter of fact, the general consensus that I’ve gathered from reports all over the web, including many from actual pool maintenance companies’ websites and blogs, is that the “comes with” pumps are good for up to about 6 months when it’s run regularly (one or two seasons, depending on your geographical location), so it’s probably not a bad idea to purchase one, regardless of whether or not it’s powerful enough for your pool.

A summary of common advice for keeping your easy set pool healthy is simply:

• when leaves and debris collect, skim it
• when you see trash on the bottom of the pool, vacuum it
• when it starts to turn green, shock it…use a product like ClearBlue, which is formulated for hot tubs and the like, to kill algae and
• make sure you use your filtration system the way your pool manufacturer recommends, whether you’re using salt or chlorine.

Investing in a pool vacuum isn’t a bad idea even when you have one of the smaller, 8′ X 24″ sized pools.

To repeat, because it’s pretty important: although you want to be cautious of the amount, strength and type of chemicals you put into a degradable pool, you do still have to take care of it in much the same way as a concrete, in-ground pool. Make sure you read the instructions that come with your pool and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

There are so many places you can find the accessories and testing/water treatment supplies you need to care for your little…or gynormous…pool, beyond pool maintenance or supply stores; places like Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart, if you got your Easy Set pool there.

But before you go to purchase from any particular store, do your homework. Check for any special offer coupons either in your local paper or online.

One place you might want to check out for money saving offers on pool accessories and supplies…or perhaps on a pool itself…would be GoodDeals24/7. At last visit, I found nearly 15 participating pool related stores.

Final advice? Stay safe and enjoy your pool!

Your Pool WHILE You’re ‘Round!

Aches and Pains of Pregnancy

Can’t stand up, can’t sit down…can’t get up once you do sit down. Can’t lay on your back, can’t lay on your side and, obviously, you can’t lay on your stomach!

(continuing that train of thought…)

…can’t eat for the heartburn, can’t breathe…certainly can’t not breathe!

Can’t fit your swollen feet into your shoes…even if you could see your feet to put them on.  Can’t pull your pants up without doing a back bend, can’t let them down without tipping over.

Sick…and tired.

Looks like a duck, waddles like a duck, then it must be….

a very pregnant lady!

The reasons for backache, swelling of feet and legs and breathlessness during pregnancy are usually pretty well cut and dried and can be treated quite easily. As long as there are no other contributing health conditions, most of these problems diminish rather quickly upon delivery.

Foot and ankle swelling, or edema, is normally attributed to the fact that, during pregnancy, your body will retain more fluid and actually produces more fluid as well. There is also the fact that as your uterus increases in size, it will put pressure on your veins, interfering with circulation. the good news is that there are a couple of tried and true methods for reversing this swelling that work amazingly quickly!

Gentle leg massage (using the flat of the hand, with light squeezing manipulation from thighs to calves and ankles) can induce a better flow of blood to your heart. A firm foot massage, paying attention toe joints, from ball of foot to each individual toe will do even more that increase circulation. If you consult a reflexology chart, you will notice that there are pressure points in your feet that correspond to just about every other part of your body, including areas of the spine (hello! help for backaches???!).  Bear in mind, if you’re having issues with varicose veins during your pregnancy, you should consult a doctor FIRST, before chasing down your better half (or kids) to start massaging your legs. Varicose veins can be due to a weakness in the structure of veins. Beyond that, because of the physical nature of pregnancy, there could possibly a more serious medical problem, like deep vein thrombosis, which can be life threatening.

Just as a change up, try running an ice cube over your instep, between the ball of the foot and the toe pads and around the front and sides of your ankles (not the back of the ankle so much, where the main ligament is).

Then again…

Apart from massage, dangling your feet and legs in a cool to chilly pool helps a lot. From all indications, there hasn’t been a whole lot of research done on this subject, even though it has worked for eons. Standing in an unheated pool, the water tends to compress the tissues in the legs and feet and provides nearly instant relief from discomfort and pain. The results are exactly the same as when, in the heat of summer, you run your hands under cold water to make the swelling go down so you can remove your rings.

Gravity is horrible enough if you’ve put on a couple of pounds, but when you’re expecting, the weight can be quite nearly disabling. Stay off your feet! Not all the time, mind you, for you do need to stay active while you’re pregnant (unless you have a condition that precludes activity). Just avoid standing for any length of time unless you’re walking. And when you sit, do so with your feet and legs elevated, with a slight bend at the knees.

When you’re pregnant, it’s common advice to practice sleeping on your left side so that the inferior vena cava (the main vein that returns blood to the heart from the lower half of your body) has the least pressure on it as possible. Of course, all the advice about standing, walking or sleeping is pretty much a moot point if you’re miserable in any of those positions!

When you hit about the 8th month of pregnancy, about the only thing ever on your mind is, “I just wish I could get comfortable!” and “I WANT THIS BABY OUT…NOW!!” (mostly because you can’t breathe, any more than you can get comfortable). And that’s where the pool comes into play.

In the water you become buoyant…the body you’re carrying around that feels like 500 pounds suddenly feels like it has no weight at all. And water is the softest, most resilient mattress of all. You can put a swim noodle behind your neck and under your knees and there will be absolutely no pressure points to pain you. Even laying in the pool on an undersized float, with legs dangling in the water on either side will do the trick.

The best part of a having access to a pool when you’re “preggers” is the wonderful gift of being able to

LAY ON YOUR STOMACH!

Click to visit Holo-lilo for one of these!

So.  The benefits of using the pool while you’re pregnant:

• Eases inflammation of nerves and joints
• Reduces those poor swollen feet
• Relieves back, hip, neck and joint aches
• Assists in lightening pressure of the womb on the hips, (bladder…did we mention that?!), knees and pelvic floor
• Is a perfect way to participate in low-impact exercise throughout your pregnancy ~ and ~
• Keeps you cool

That’s all the fun stuff. Now for the inevitable cautionaries *:

Although mild foot and ankle swelling during pregnancy is normal, extreme swelling during pregnancy can be a red flag. Contact your health care provider if you have:

• Severe or sudden swelling
• Swelling in only one leg

Severe or sudden swelling could be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia. “Preeclampsia (pre-eclampsia) is when a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure and protein in the urine after the 20th week (late 2nd or 3rd trimester) of pregnancy. (undefined. (August 23, 2012). PubMed Health. In Preeclampsia – National Library of Medicine. Retrieved May 21, 2013, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001900/.)

Other signs and symptoms of preeclampsia include:

• severe headaches,
• blurred vision
• rapid weight gain.

Be extra aware of your salt intake when you’re pregnant as this can also lead to the kind of swelling that no amount of cool water or ice pack can reduce.

Swelling in only one leg — especially if it’s accompanied by pain or tenderness in the calf or thigh — could indicate a blood clot or other underlying condition. Both conditions warrant prompt evaluation and treatment. If you’re unsure how to proceed, again, CONSULT A PHYSICIAN FOR MEDICAL ADVICE!

*Reference(s):

Harms, R MD. (n.d.). What causes ankle swelling during pregnancy-and what can I do about it?. In Pregnancy Week by  Week. Retrieved May 21, 2013, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/swelling-during-pregnancy/AN01194.

Is Your Pool Site Safe?

We were having a ball! My son had just been given one of those easy set style pools, you know, the rubbery kind that the sides rise as you fill it, due to the inflatable top ring. Oh, forget my trying to explain! That’s the kind I’m talking about, in that picture right over there on the right!

Anyway, it was the first day that was hot enough to make the water tolerable and we were just having the time of our lives.

Right up until the code enforcement people came to talk to my son about violations to the Florida Pool Safety Regulations for Residential Pools. Not much fun after that.

Not many people realize that, regardless of the kind of pool you have…with the exception of the little wading pools aka “kiddy pools”…you are subject to your state’s safety regulations.

• You must have some sort of barrier around your pool, in-ground or above ground
• If it’s a fence type barrier with a self-closing gate, the latch must be located on the pool side of the fence
• Your barrier must be at least 4′ high, with no way for a child to crawl under, over or through the fence
• An alternative to all this, depending on your state’s statutes, may be a pool cover that is sturdy enough to prevent a child or medically frail adult from falling into the water and secure enough that a child cannot remove it – or –
• If the above ground pool has rigid sides and is 4′ high or more, with an access ladder, your state might allow you to use a gated ladder (see picture), as long as it’s at least 4′ high, is self closing and the latch is on the pool side…just like a fence barrier

Even if you have a fence around your property, you must have a barrier to access of the pool…no if’s and’s or but’s.

The only exceptions to these rules are

1. your pool is a “kiddy pool” (usually no more than 8″-12″ deep), or
2. your in-ground pool was built prior to the implementation of your state’s statutes…again, depending on how your state has spelled them out.

So, before you open your pool to neighbour’s, or before you erect your above ground pool, check out the pool safety laws of your state…then get the accessories you need to not only stay out of trouble but also to keep your loved ones safe.

Don’t find out the hard way!

This is one of the pool covers for the easy set style pools. Check the safety statutes in your state to see if it qualifies under safety guidelines.

A ladder like this is generally acceptable for a rigid sided, above ground pool with sides that are 4′ high or more. The latch must be on the inside/poolside of the gate. You are still required to make sure that a child is unable to climb up the sides to get in.

If the access ladder for your above ground pool is not easily removable or you have a full or partial access deck, make sure you have a deck barrier mounted on the top edge. It must be installed correctly so that it’s stable.

Finally, there are a number of more affordable products on the market for use as a barrier. You might want to check into Good Deals 24/7 to see if your favorite pool accessories store is offering any money saving deals. Just remember though, before you go to the expense of buying something that you think may help you cut money corners, make sure you know the pool safety laws of your state.

 

 

“Who Lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea?”

Well, that absorbent and yellow and porous cartoon character lives there, of course. But, what about in the water at the bottom of your pool?

When my son and his family moved into a “new” rental house a couple of years ago, they invited me over…and told me to bring my bathing suit. I wasn’t too sure why in heaven’s name they would want me to come over to scare my grandchildren like that…they were usually pretty protective of their kids, you know, no scary movies after a certain time of night and so on. But then I figured that if they had turned into mean monsters or something, I should probably oblige them (didn’t want them turning on me). Still, I do love my grandkids so, instead of a bathing suit, I put on a pair of spandex shorts and thought, “That ought to do it”…and headed on over.

I was very happy and relieved to find out that the reason for the clothing request was because their new house had a nice in-ground pool and they wanted to surprise me with a cooling dip! Relieved, I jumped in the deep end, spandex and all!

Turned out the kids were just as scared of a large, shiny, Spandex covered keister carousing in their brand new pool as they would have been of a very large, flabby whale in a turquoise tankini flopping around in the water. Who knew?

Anyway, after a good deal of splashing around, my son took me on a tour of the house and their nice yard. I couldn’t help noticing that their back-door neighbor also had a pool.  It would be a nice pool, I told my daughter-in-law, but was it supposed to be that shade of green?

Even for those who use their pool all year ’round, most won’t use it quite as regularly during the off-season, unless it’s an indoor pool. And once pool usage goes down, so too does the close attention it would normally receive.

Mustard Algae, not the same as Green Algae; requires strong chemicals to kill.

The green colour in an unused, unkempt pool is the result of algae. Algae will grow when a pool’s phosphate level rises and kills what chlorine is present to prevent its growth. Of course, during times of most usage, pool owners tend to skim, treat and shock their pools on a regular basis and only notice the algae after it has overwintered.

Off season, leaves and dust can collect on the surface, rain…well…rains down, bringing all the environmental pollution with it and birds drop their…err…droppings and other bodily wastes into the water. Insects (which actually do defecate) leave their…umm…leavings and sometimes just drown. Nitrogen and carbon are now part of the pool’s water system.

Add to that, debris from hurricanes and storms, whether from high winds or flooding, can also contribute to materials deposited into your pool. In short, unless you pay attention to your pool all year ’round, including covering it when it’s not in use, it can become a full dinner plate for algae to feast on, as all of the trash begins to rot and produce phosphate…gourmet algae food.

If it was just the algae, a good shock or 2 might clear it up. But you have to be vigilant; health problems can arise when people tend to think, “Well, we’re not actually swimming in it everyday so I’ll just put off treating the pool for awhile.”

The problem is that if you leave it too long, more than just green algae can start growing in there; black algae which looks much like black mold is growing on the bottom of your pool, mustard algae which is rather difficult to contain because it breaks down easily and resists regular chlorination…even pink slime (yes! that really is its name!) which is not algae, but a type of fungus and which can trigger asthma attacks in susceptible people.

Pink Slime Algae

It’s very much the same as when, at the sea shore during a “Red Tide” algae bloom, the elderly, the very young and anyone with breathing difficulties from any source are cautioned to keep their distance. Also, bacteria of all kinds love to grow in rot and if you have an open cut or sore, you open yourself up to a world of possibilities where your health is concerned.

Can it get worse? You betcha. The last thing you want to think  about when you’re swimming is what tiny creatures might be swimming beside you.  The fact is that, according to the Centers for Disease Control, any pool can be contaminated with parasites like Cryptosporidium (also chlorine resistant) and bacteria (like E. coli from fecal matter).  If you’re not careful, you could find yourself in the emergency room with a  really bad upset stomach or a scary-looking rash in places you’d rather not have them.

So, if you’re spending time around a green pool with pink slime around and in it, and your asthma or tummy starts acting up, or you notice a rash travelling up your body or across your face, it would probably be a good idea to call a doctor as soon as you can!

Oh, and if you see something that looks like a pineapple growing under your personal “sea” and if you spy an absorbent and yellow and porous something crawling out from under it, you might want to contact the nearest pool guy you can find in your phone book or online! Better yet, if you’re going to use your pool all year, test it often and keep it clean!

Note: I’d like to thank my son and daughter-in-law (you know which ones you are!) in advance for not holding me liable for the little bit of poetic license I may have taken!

“Sun Fun” or Sun Stroke…It’s Up to You!

No matter how determined we may be, we don’t always keep “Safety First” in mind when it comes to summer fun around the pool, patio or back yard. Sometimes the consequences can be as simple as a stubbed toe, but other times “sun fun” can lead to painful consequences, like heat stroke, sun stroke or heat exhaustion.

The term “heat stroke” is pretty self explanatory. It means that heat from over exertion (exertional heat stroke) or that exposure to high temperatures without physical activity (non-exertional heat stroke) has been too much for you  and results in a breakdown in your body’s systems. The term “sun stroke” means simply that you’re having these issues because of your activities while in the sun. Sun stroke, then, would be an exacerbating addition to heat stroke. Either way…no ‘Sun Fun’ for you if you aren’t careful!

The best way to avoid sun-stroke is to prepare your outdoor area first, by making sure you have a place to cool down quickly (and that doesn’t mean just having a pool handy) and by paying attention to the signs that your body is giving you at all times, whether it’s telling you that you need to drink something, sit in the shade, slow down or get out of the sun. There may not be anyone else who will remember these things for you…It’s up to you!

Preparing your outdoor space is not necessarily an expensive affair. If you have even a little imagination you can see to it that the surrounding area has everything needed for comfort and safety, whether your pool is in ground or above. Elegance or luxury, all the amenities or Spartan functionality…just be sure your space includes:

• Shade: make sure that your shady area allows an air current (perhaps even keep a battery operated personal fan on hand) and an elevated surface for an emergency ‘lay down’
• Extra hand towels which can be used as cool compresses
• Cooler(s) or dorm fridge for cool drinks and plenty of ice (always keep a cool pack or two in there also)
• Water on ice for ample, continuous hydration and core cooling*
• Water and/or beverages with electrolytes added, for emergencies (allowing about a half gallon per person for that purpose)
• First Aid kit
• Emergency contact list by a phone

* Icy cold water can cause stomach cramping if you drink too fast when you’re too over heated

By the way, don’t forget your pets who may share your fun-in-the-sun recreation! Dogs and cats (and guinea pigs, rabbits, etc) all wear fur coats year ’round and they have no way of cooling down except by panting. Because of this, domestic animals can be prone to sun or heat stroke as well, only it’s much easier to turn deadly for them.

One of those water cooler type of watering dishes would work outside, only think about putting a tray or so of ice cubes in the reservoir and wrapping it in a towel or flexible foam, like the stuff movers use when packing your china. Keep his dishes up off the ground and in the shade. Have a shady place for your pet to rest, perhaps under a ceiling fan.

If it’s extra hot out, so much so that even the shade is sweltering, how about a wading pool under the awning or gazebo! Pets or kids can stay cool no matter where under the sun they are…okay, kids of any age!

When spending time outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine, whether it’s summertime, autumn, winter or spring, always prepare for heat stroke, sun stroke or heat exhaustion. Obviously, the above mostly refers to your summertime “Sun Fun”. Off season is different.

While you won’t necessarily be wearing a bathing suit, that doesn’t preclude the possibility of acquiring a sunburn, regardless of where on earth you live or what time a year you spend time by your pool. Some of the worst burns you can get can happen on a ski slope because of the reflective surface of snow. Just so, reflection from your pool doesn’t cease to be an issue simply because it is springtime or autumn. Hence, a good sunblock that is suited to your skin type can’t hurt a thing.

In order to help with the issue of sunburn, there are sun shade meshes available that will allow the sun to shine through while blocking much of the UVB rays, so helping to prevent sunburn. You can find these products by doing an internet search or by typing in the name of a manufacturer you may be acquainted with and adding a “.com” behind it. If you’re in the mood for a bargain, try out GoodDeals247.com and check out one of their listed vendors.

No matter how you look at it, being aware of your surroundings and paying attention to the signals your body may be giving you doesn’t mean you’re being overly cautious, any more than looking both ways when you cross a street instead of only one direction makes you overly cautious. If you want to have fun in the sun, take precautions ahead of time and get into the habit of “listening” to your body.

If not, well, sun stroke is only a careless minute of neglect away!

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* Note: Opinion is not advice! If you have concerns about your health or would like advice on how to accommodate any medical condition you may have, talk to a doctor first, before changing your health and/or exercise routines.

 

 

 

Pool…As Winter Spa?

A couple of months ago while strolling around the neighbourhood, I noticed most of the neighbours getting their pools ready for summer. Water rolled down the road like a miniature river and people were outside in their winter jackets with pool vaccuums and brushes.

One neighbour, though, was just sitting on the edge of his pool, bundled up in a blanket…just around his shoulders and ears…sitting on the top step in the water, while steam arose from the surface in lazy wisps like smoke. It was cool enough outside that one could see one’s breath and I wondered if perhaps he was part of some ‘Polar Bear Bathing Club’, down from up north or   something.

Of course I boldly intruded on him to get the story of what prompted such bravery in the face of 40 degree temperatures (you see, when one reaches a certain age one is permitted to use one’s geriatric position in life as an excuse for all sorts of behavior, trespassing included sometimes!).

This elderly man, it so happens, suffers from severe arthritis and uses his pool daily, rain or shine, warm or cold, as a spa…but only from the waist down! To make the temperature of the pool water tolerable, he created a cover made of 3″ bubble wrap sheets adhered to a dark vinyl sheet which he lays over the water and, as long as the sun has shown long enough, his pool can warm up to about 90 degrees. That’s with the southern sun, of course.

The Florida sun can heat up a medium sized, in-ground pool with a heat blanket in about 3 or 4 hours, depending on the time of day and whether or not the water is always covered after the sun starts to go down to retain the day’s heat, which he does. He is able to use his “pool spa” 2-3 times a day, including just before the sun starts to dip.

Of course, my husband has his own idea of a homemade pool spa…

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NOTE: Opinion is not advice. This site is informational only and is not intended to replace a doctor’s care. Please consult a doctor before making any decisions regarding your health or that of your children.